New Mexico State football gets commit on offensive line

LAS CRUCES - Jeff Ketron has sent a productive football player to New Mexico State in the past.

The Douglas County High School coach produced Jimmy Cottrell in 2002, a player who ranks third all-time in career tackles in school history. This week, another Douglas County player committed to NMSU - 2014 offensive guard and long snapper Jamin Smith from Castle Rock, Colo.

"I chose New Mexico State because I felt comfortable with the staff and I think they are making some good changes down there," Smith said.

Ketron was a graduate assistant at Wyoming when current NMSU offensive coordinator Gregg Brandon was a receivers coach there.

"Most Mountain West schools had interest in him but New Mexico State was his first offer," Ketron said. "Air Force, Wyoming and Colorado State were all recruiting him but (Brandon) was the first to sincerely recruit him. We talk here about going where you are loved and when he went to visit last weekend, he felt comfortable."

Smith is a two-time first-team conference player entering his senior year, according to Ketron. He's a 3.8 grade-point-average student who will graduate in December and enroll at NMSU next winter, Ketron said.

Smith placed eighth in the Colorado state wrestling tournament as a junior. Ketron said the 6-foot-2, 270-pound Smith squats 713 pounds.

"We have had 15 Division-I offensive linemen here," said Ketron, who's been the head coach for the past 14 years at Douglas County. "Jamin is probably the toughest of all of them.

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He isn't the biggest, but I would put him up against anyone."

Jason Groves can be reached at (575) 541-5459. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves